The House of Representatives Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has issued a firm directive that the Commission's massive N1.75 trillion budget proposal for 2025 must result in visible and concrete improvements for the people of the oil-rich region.
Lawmakers Demand Tangible Results, Not Routine Approval
Chairing the budget defence session at the National Assembly on Tuesday, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, declared that legislators would not treat the financial plan as a mere formality. She emphasized that the colossal sum symbolizes renewed hope and must be meticulously scrutinized to ensure it directly benefits the communities.
"The NDDC budget represents hope, opportunity, and the promise of a better quality of life for our people," Ibori-Suenu stated. She warned that the House would subject the proposal to intense examination to guarantee it delivers measurable outcomes in infrastructure, human capacity building, youth empowerment, and economic inclusion.
The lawmaker pledged that legislative support would be contingent on proven performance and verifiable projects on the ground. "The people of the Niger Delta deserve projects they can see, use, and benefit from," she asserted, promising sustained oversight throughout the implementation phase.
NDDC Management Presents "Budget of Consolidation"
Earlier at the session, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Mr. Samuel Ogbuku, presented the N1.75 trillion proposal, which he themed "Budget of Consolidation." He described it as a strategic shift from transactional governance to a transformational, results-oriented approach.
Ogbuku explained that the budget aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda and reflects the current management's reform goals. Notably, he highlighted a no-borrowing strategy that led to a nine per cent reduction from the 2024 budget.
The budget breakdown presented includes:
- Personnel costs: N47.5 billion
- Overhead costs: N96.4 billion
- Capital expenditure: The core focus of the proposal
In a significant administrative change, Ogbuku disclosed that the Commission has moved away from line-item budgeting to sectoral allocations, a move aimed at reducing delays and enhancing project execution efficiency.
Performance Review and Future Collaboration
Reviewing the outgoing year, the NDDC boss reported that the Commission outperformed its revenue expectations for 2024. It recorded an actual revenue of N1.945 trillion, surpassing the projected N1.911 trillion.
The session concluded with mutual commitments from both the parliamentary committee and the NDDC management to strengthen their collaboration. The shared goal is to ensure the historic budget translates into sustainable development and inclusive growth across all states in the Niger Delta region.
